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Shadows writhed and slid across pale skin, each attempt to raise up met only with the further twisting of shadows. It almost looked like eels struggling within Zoey’s very flesh, skidding across her face and arms as her powers strained against what was happening to her, lashing out like a cornered beast beneath the harsh lights above but unable to escape.

It had been fifteen minutes since the IV line had been inserted into the woman’s arm, and it was as though her very skin was trying to rip itself apart. In her time as Grim, Zoey had been subjected to many things - including poison that burned through her very veins - and this wasn’t like that. There was a [i]burn[/i], but it wasn’t acid and fire that set her blood ablaze. This was a pressure that threatened to burst from every pore, a heat that ignited every cluster of nerves just to smother it so the pain streaked with the last dying embers of the sun. Her teeth ached, her skin was clammy, and her thrashing was only contained by the restraints that kept her locked to the bed.

Doctor Edwards had been patiently watching, the damnable bastard having cleaned himself up from Zoey’s brief attack and gone back to being an infuriatingly amenable and warm Grandpa of a doctor. The man had slid a stool over to sit and write upon a clipboard, keeping up a steady and mostly one-sided conversation about how she’s been running the hospital quite well - very hands off, unlike her father, which many employees appreciated. 

She was going to rip his fucking jugular out with her teeth.

And now there was blood in her mouth.

“... Ah, my apologies Miss Kasimir! I should’ve really put a guard in your mouth - it’s not unusual to bite one’s tongue right off sometimes on this particular cocktail.” Edwards chuckled, reaching out to pat Zoey’s arm and ignoring how she jerked away from his touch.

“What-” Zoey’s back arched, as much as it could tied down as she was.

“Oh, your treatment? I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to explain it a little.” The Doctor clipped his pen onto the clipboard, setting it on his knee and leaning forward. “As you’re probably aware, there’s a little genetic lottery going on nowadays that most people don’t even think about. You’re actually an extremely lucky individual, as your circumstances of birth have given you [i]two[/i] advantages over the masses.”

He waved up towards the off-green bag hanging from the IV line.

“This is a little concoction made by myself, inspired by a comic book my grandson told me about actually. Most people we have… working … for us, don’t exactly meet certain criteria we set. This helps them tick those boxes. Why, Sarah was one of the first to use it, and you can certainly feel how its helped her abilities come into themself!

“You see, Miss Kasimir, right now this liquid is entering your blood stream and, in layman’s terms, is giving your very powers a shot of adrenaline. It can become permanent over prolonged exposure, but it’s really only controllable on those with already weak abilities. The few times we’ve had someone with … well, competent powers, their own bodies tore themselves apart. Which I’m sure you’re feeling right now, and would be much worse if not for Sarah here. Now, this was obviously a high profile little stunt of ours out there in the streets - what better way to distract from it than a beloved hero being unmasked and forced to put down? It’s all very well and good for us. Plus, well, you’re certainly someone we don’t want knowing about what’s going on.”

Edwards chuckled, returning to his clipboard.

“At least, that’s the suggestion I put forth. We’re still deciding if we want to try and work from another angle, but I’ve already administered and the antidote-”

An alarm rang out, and Edwards gave pause. Sarah didn’t even flinch and Zoey was too wrapped up in herself to do more. After a moment the doctor’s phone vibrated and he took it out to answer the call.

“Yes, Edwards here, I hear it. Yes, they’re right here. Really? Interesting. Carrion is indisposed, but send Tank and Ember. I’m sure they’ll be happy to have a second chance.”

He hung up his phone before turning back with a pleasant smile.

“Now, where were we?”